Canucks Call Up Joseph LaBate

With the news this morning that Derek Dorsett may be heading for the Injured Reserve, speculation was abound about who the Canucks might call up in his stead. While Alex Grenier leads the team in scoring, AHL contracted players Curtis Valk and Darren Archibald are on hot streaks, and Jake Virtanen is also there, the Canucks opted to go with Joe LaBate, as he is clearly the Dorsett-iest player available.

Despite the fact that it makes jokes about the Canucks lineup far too easy, I actually don’t mind this call up.

Honestly, there isn’t a whole lot to choose from when you’re looking at call ups from the Comets. With Jayson Megna and Michael Chaput already up in Vancouver, Alex Grenier would have been the sensible next choice if you were looking looking to reward production. Jake Virtanen has had an okay couple of games, but now that they’ve committed to trying to develop him properly, leaving him there for a bit is definitely the right move. Curtis Valk is also tearing it up, but the Canucks still haven’t signed him to an NHL deal, so he’s not really an option.

So LaBate it is!

I had LaBate pegged as a “Probably” to make his NHL debut this season. He earned a lot of attention in the preseason, lasting until the final couple of games and winning over the fans with his raucous style of play and some surprisingly polished plays in the offensive zone.

Since being sent down, LaBate, like most of the Comets, has been a little cold. While he has six points in 12 games on the year, three of those points have come in the last three games, indicating that things might finally be picking up.

LaBate has played all up and down the Utica lineup (I have him down for 1 / 3 / 3 / 5 appearances on lines one to four respectively), lining up next to centres that range from Michael Chaput to Mike Zalewski to Phil DeSimone. Most recently he has formed a stable unit with Cole Cassels and Michael Carcone, typically deployed as the second line.

LaBate has also been getting a lot of power play time, and usually on the first unit. While the strength of that unit comes from the players on the outside – Alex Grenier in the Ovi-spot, Jordan Subban at the centre point, Michael Chaput (and now Curtis Valk) at the right half-wall – LaBate has added value as the net front presence. His 6-foot-4 frame is ideal for screens, and he’s shown a decent propensity for redirecting pucks in front. His latest goal came on the power play, while his first goal came seconds after one had expired.

LaBate also brings a high level of battle and aggression, which is probably a major factor in why the Canucks chose him over the more productive Grenier (he also kills penalties, which Grenier doesn’t do). LaBate has been in a couple of scraps already this year, and gained some notoriety in Utica last season after scoring his first professional shortly after a tilt that left him bloody.

Like I said in the intro, LaBate was the Dorsett-iest choice available, but if we’re being honest, I actually prefer LaBate to Dorsett. He’s just as willing to scrum it up, and I think he’s got better offensive ability. Win win.

The Canucks have a couple more days off before heading to Arizona on Wednesday for a rematch against the Coyotes.